Team

Penny Cox is the Treasurer for the University of Kentucky, overseeing various financial and treasury functions including, debt and liquidity, banking, payroll, accounts payable, travel management, research accounting, cost accounting, property records, student accounts, and accounting and preparation of internal and external financial reports.

Penny joined the University of Kentucky in 1972 and has served in numerous leadership positions, including Associate Vice President for Administration at UK.   In her role, she reports to the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and Co-Executive Vice President for Health Affairs which has over 33,000 students, more than 26,000 full and part-time employees, and a budget of nearly $8.4 billion.

Her areas of interest include finance, auxiliary and business services at colleges and universities, academic medical centers, public-private university partnerships, data analytics, master planning, and student success strategies that support quality of life for student recruitment, retention and graduation.

A Kentucky native, she earned both her bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. from the University of Kentucky.

Contact Sarah

Sarah Simpson is the Debt and Liquidity Principal Director for the University of Kentucky and reports to the University’s Treasurer. Her responsibilities include overseeing both the University’s internal and external debt portfolios as well as the operating fund investment portfolio.

Sarah joined the University of Kentucky in 2015 as an analyst in the University Financial Services department. She has been a director within University Financial Services since 2018. Prior to joining the University, she was a public finance analyst with Hilliard Lyons, where she served as the analyst for the University of Kentucky’s relationship.

A Kentucky native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Centre College and her MBA from the University of Louisville.

Contact Matt

Matt Massarone is the Debt and Liquidity Analyst for the University of Kentucky and reports to the Debt and Liquidity Senior Director. His responsibilities include providing analysis of the internal and external debt portfolios as well as the operating fund investment portfolio. He also monitors the University’s post-issuance compliance program.

Matt joined the University of Kentucky in 2019 as a member of the Student Financial Aid office where he was previously the Counseling & Outreach Coordinator. He transitioned to his current position as Debt & Liquidity Analyst within the University Financial Services department in November 2022.

A Kentucky native, he earned both his bachelor’s degree and M.S.F from the University of Kentucky.